Apparatus for treating the eyes



Acs. M. vo'csolDENi 2,035,664

APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE EYES Filed Aug. 30, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3L w36. G. M. OGORDEN APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE EYESl m 9x j W0 J 4 U7 d j. m w o. o Anm [1% i wm M J m.. 5 7 0 1 26 j Q 7 6 4 @6 @2j j 1 JAN/Ue 7 zio/fy 31, 1936. G. M.. oGoRDEN 2,935,664

APPARATUS FOR TREATING THE EYES Filed Aug. 30, 1935 Sheets-Sheet 3 31, 193s. G. M, @"GORDEN 2,035,664

APPARATUS lFORTFUEIATING THE EYES Filed Aug. 5o, 193s 4 sneet-sneet 4 al". l

Patented Mar. 31, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Garry Mike OGorden,

Chicago, Ill., assignor to Frank R. Mason, Chicago, Ill., and Rosabel Waddell, St. Louis, Mo.

Application August 30,

Claims.

My present invention has relation to the provision of an apparatus for treating the eyes and more particularly relates to the provision of devices for subjecting the eyes to air pressures both 5 above and below the normal atmospheric pressure, which changes of pressure will cause the patient to use and exercise the muscles employed in the focalization of the eye.

I am aware that it has already been suggested to provide a pair of spectacles with a pair of tubes extending from the lenses to the face about the eyes, together with a tube leading to the mouth or a compressible bulb for forcing air into or extracting it from the aforementioned tubes.

I have found, however, that in order to realize any advantage to the eyes from thus disturbing the muscular balance which any particular patient has established with respect to his or her own eyes the change of pressure is of importance only by reason of the muscular action it induces and the action should be uniform and the extent of such action readily and positively known and controlled.

I have further found that the muscles of the eye respond most readily and pleasantly to and are most eflicaciously effected by changes which succeed each other with a suitable degree of rapidity so as to produce what may be described as a vibratory effect upon the muscles of the eye.

I have therefore had as myobjects the provision of apparatus for changing the pressure in front of the patients eye in which the latitude of such changes may be dependably measured and controlled and in which the abnormal pressure condition may be caused to vary or flutter at a rate which may be found desirable.

I have attained the foregoing objects by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the stand upon which is mounted the pump and the pressure changing, measuring and control apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section, to an enlarged scale, of the pump. t

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

50 Fig. 5 is a diagram of the relation between the pump and the control apparatus and the head piece which is associated with the eyes.

Fig. 6 is a central sectional elevation, to an enlarged scale, of one of the valves which is interposed in the tubes leading from the pump.

1933, Serial No. 687,466

(Cl. 12S-25) Fig. 7 is a central sectional elevation of one of the valves for controlling communication to the tubes of the head piece; and

Fig. 8 is a top plan view partially in section of the head piece and valves for producing the 5 fluttering or relatively rapid alteration of the pressure.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views.

All of the apparatus, with the exception of the .10 head piece and the tubes leading thereto, is mounted upon a rectangular table or stand I0 having a shelf II mounted between the legs or supports of the table or stand below the top thereof, At the rear and extending above the 15 plane of the top I provide a back panel I2 which is for mounting and supporting the pressure gauges and such part of the control apparatus as are hereafter vdescribed as located thereon. The pump, and its driving mechanism for producing the changes of pressure, is mounted upon the shelf II, together with an electric motor I3 for actuating the pump. As most clearly shown in Fig. 1, the pump is mounted between and supported by two perforated, flanged plates I4, the v25 llanges whereof are secured by bolts I5 to the shelf I I. The pump itself, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, comprises a pair of cylinders I6 disposed in parallel relation and extending between and through apertures provided in the plates I4. 30 Surrounding the cylinders I6 and also extending between the plates I4 are spacer tubes I'I and closing the respective ends of the cylinders are cap-like cylinder heads I8.

Washers I9 are interposed between the plates I4 and the ends of the tubes I'I and the ends of the cylinder heads I8. The cylinder heads at one end of the cylinder I6 are centrally perforated and provided with packing gland screws 2 for the passage of piston rods 2I on the inner 40 ends of which are secured pistons 22 which reciprocate in the cylinder I6. Between the cylinders I6 the plates I4 are perforated to receive collars 23 which form bearings for a guide rod 24. The piston rods 2| and guide rod 24 are secured in a 45 cross-head 25. To the cross-head 25 is pivoted a link 26, the outer end whereof is secured by means of a bolt 2l and nut 28 operating through a slot 29 in a rocker arm 3i). By sliding the bolt 2l to various positions in the slot 29 the stroke, 50 or latitude of movement, of the pistons 22 may be controlled. The lower end of the rocker arm 3D is xedly secured to a shaft 3| operating in a bearing 32 and to the opposite end of the shaft 3l is xedly secured an arm 33 to which arm 33 u ton 22.

is pivoted a link 34, the opposite end of which link 34 is pivotally secured to and eccentrically of a disk 35 rotated by the motor I3.

In each cylinder head |8 is set a valve 36 ar- 5 ranged to open upon an exhaustion stroke of the piston 22 and to seat upon a compression stroke of the said piston and a valve 31 oppositely arranged to seat upon an exhaustion stroke and to open upon a compression stroke of the said pis- In connection with each of the valves 36 are provided manually operated cocks 38 which are to be opened when it is desired tooperate the machine upon pressures exceeding .atmospheric pressure. The valve 38 is opened manuall5 ly each time the piston 22 moves from the cylinder end near which valve' 38 is mounted and closed on the reverse stroke, to avoid loss of pressure.

Mounted to, the rear and upon the top yof the table I0 are a pair of hollow cylinders 39 and 40,

,as most clearly shown in Figs-4 and 5. As most clearly shown in diagrammatic Fig. 5 the valves 36 located in the respective cylinder heads are .connected by suitable tubing withthe. cylinder .253 39, while the valves 31 associated with each of .the cylinder heads 4vare likewise connected by means of suitable tubing with the cylinder 40.

.Interposed in the respective runs of tubing from each of the valves 36 and 31 to the respective. cylinders39 and 49 are manuallyoperated valves 4|, shown in enlarged sectional detail in .-Fig. 6. By reference to Fig..6 it will be seen that by the manual operation of the milled head :42 the valves 4| can be adjusted to entirely cut 3.35 ofor reduce tov any degree the communication l-between. the valves 36 and: 31 .with the respective Acylinders 39 and 40.

Mounted upon the back panel |2 of the table is avacuum gauge43 and a pressure gauge 44.

x .The vacuum gauge 43 is connected by tubing 45 Awith cylinder .39 andthe pressure gauge. 44 is Iconnected by tubing46 to cylinder 4|).so that the degree. of vacuum orv pressure existing in the :respective cylinders 39.and.40..at anytirneis .-15 showniby thesegauges. Also mounted upon the `back panel l2 kof the .table I0 is a rheostat41 `included in the electric circuit for energizing the motonl 3 by meansof which rheostat the speed Vof the motor maybe'modied througha certain `50s latitude.

.As most clearly seenin diagrammatic Fig. 5, tubes 48 Land 49.1ead from cylinder 39 to the respective cylinders ,5U-and. 5|. of the head piece, and likewise, tubes 53 and 52 lead fromthe cyl- 55.inder40 to, respectively, the head piece cylinders Interposedin the.tubes 48,49, 52and 53 are hand opened and spring closed valves 54, shown in enlarged sectional Idetail in Fig. '7. The valves .560 :54;are. located in a rowy upon the top of the table .|9..in front of the valves 4| andforconvenience inoperation I have arranged the valves v54 in pairs, one of the pairs controlling the pressure ,-.andyacuum to the cylinder 50, .while .the other 1,565 paircontrols the pressure and vacuum to the g5 I5-further influencethecharacterof theeii'ect tional, and, as will be seen by reference to Fig. 6, includes the valve proper 42a which seats at 421) andis caused to `seat and open by the rotation of the valve stem 42e by means of the milled 'head"42. LAThe valve 54 is likewise largely con- 15 ventional, and,l aswill be seen by reference to Fig. 7, consists of the valve proper 54a, which is seated. by means vof the coil spring 54h. Extending. downwardly from the top through the casing of the Valve 54 is a rod 54C which is normally held 20 `out ,of `contact with thevalve properf54arby means of the4 coil spring. 54d extending Ybetween;lthe valve lcasing and a milled head- 54eamounted;upon the top of. the rod 54cso that this valve isfnormally closed and is caused. to open bypressing-g25 upon the milled head 54e.

It willbe seenbyreferencegto Fig. '1'thatif the port 54j is connected with the tube. running to the cylinder39 and the port 54g is-connected with the tube running to the head piece the valve; 30

l54a, will seat with pressure, and also, if thef-.port

54g is connected with the tuberunning tothe cylinderwilli` and the port 541 is connectedwvith the head piece the valve 54a, will still seatyvith pressure. In other words, the style of valvegg; shown in Fig. '1 may be used both on the` pressure and vacuum'lines by merely reversing its connections.

The head piece, as most clearly shown in Fig:V 8, comprises a pair of cylinders 50 and 5|, each -pro- .p10 vided with. alaterally projecting bar 62 .and;63,

the, extending ends of which areprovidedwith slots 64 through which operates a bolt .with a milled headed nut 65 by means of which the-separation of the cylinders 50 and5|and theirspars45 allelismor Obliquity may be easily adjusted. In the forward. end of each cylinder is mounteda suitable lens 66 and on the opposite ends ofthe cylinders :50 and 5| are mounted cups 61 shaped to conform to the configuration ofthe face about 50 the eyes. Over the rear ends of the cups 61 is mounted Ya cornpressible annulus v68 of rubber or other suitable material to substantially. seal the contact with the face. .Means are provided inthe lowerv portions of the cylindersi50andl5|:.,55 for making connection with ilexible` extensions with the tubes 48 and 53 and 49, and 52,-as clearly shown in Fig. 5. I have indicated the ports through which these tubes make connection with the reference characters.:48a,.53a, 49a'and52 11e-:60 spectively.

In the sides of the cylinders 50 and 5| are provided pcrts in which are mounted valves.;69.and 19, the valve 69 being held closedy bya lightspring 69a against the entry of any air into the cylinder; vG5 whereas the valve 16 is -held closedbyspring 10a against the emergence of any air from thefcylinder. The outerends of the valves 69 and '|'.screW into ports in the side of a cylinder 1|,.in the opposite side of which cylinder 1| .areivalves 12 andr70 13 whichare larrangedto'and do operateprecisely like the valves 69 andr10 to whichtheyiare respectively opposite. VOne end ofthe cylinder ,1| is premanently closedandinto -theppposite endscrewsa, plug 14 .which is centrallyrbored and tapped to receive the threaded stem 'l5 upon the outer end of which is provided a knurled cap 16. Secured to the inner end of the stem l is a cylindrical plug 'Il which is caused to travel backwards and forwards in the bore of the cylinder 1| by rotating the stem 15.

When pressures below atmospheric pressure are being employed upon the eye or eyes and the plug 11 is in a position between the valves 69 and l2, as shown in detail in Fig. 8, this portion of the apparatus is inactive, but should the plug 11 be screwed down so as to open up communication between the valves 69 and 'I2 air would enter against the action of the springs which would cause a utter lof the valves upon their seats and a like uttering alteration of the pressure within the cylinders 50 and 5l and effective upon the eyes. On the other hand, if pressures above atmospheric pressure were being employed in the cylinders 50 and 5| and a communication was open between the valves and 13, as shown in detail in Fig. 8, such excess pressure would escape against the action 01, the springs in a uttering manner, but if the plug 11 is screwed in suiciently far to block communication between the valves 10 and 13, the structure would be rendered inoperative to cause a fluttering change of pressure.

The apparatus is operated as follows: The motor I3 is started and any or all of the valves 4I are manually opened to secure the desired degree of vacuum and pressure in the cylinders 39 and 40, as indicated by the gauges 43 and 44, it being understood that when pressure is being built up the cocks 38 are manually opened. 'Ihe head piece is then xed upon the head of the patient and the patient is directed to view a suitable target through the lenses 66. Then, in accordance with the abnormality of the patient, either myopic or hypermetropic, air is either introduced into or exhausted from one of the cylinders 5|) and 5l, and then the other cylinder, by the manipulation of the appropriate ones of the four valves 54. Such action usually and normally results in substantially clearing the patients vision. The strength of the fluctuation or periodicity is then modied by the adjustment of the plug 1l in the cylinder ll. If it is desired to strengthen or increase the periodic character the accumulation tanks 55 and 53 are then closed off by the operation of the valves 59. By cutting off progressively the respective heads of the cylinders i6 by the operation of the valves 4 I, the periodic character is still further altered and by the adjustment of the link 26 in the slot 29 the stroke can be still further changed. The rheostat 41 also may be employed in delaying or accelerating the period. The imposition of pressure or the relief of pressure from the eyes in proper cases distinctly releases the tension of the eye muscles.

In the employment of relatively long and slow changes of pressure the patient is inclined to meet the action of the machine with some conscious muscular eiort. In quick changes of p-ressure there is little effort made to muscularly meet the changes of condition. In any of these changes the muscles of the eye are gently moved, which is salutory to them, as like action is to all other muscles of the body, through physiological causes, and the normal physiological results are the improvements of the strength and physical condition of the muscles.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with a head piece adapted to t the face about the eyes providing compartments in front of the eyes through which vision may be exercised, a pressure cylinder and a vacuum cylinder, means for establishing controlled selective communication between said cylinders and said respective compartments, a pump for maintaining pressure and vacuum in said cylinders, and independent means associated directly With the compartments of the head piece for imparting a vibratory character to the pressure within the compartments of the head piece when the pressure in said compartments is either above or below atmospheric pressure.

2. In combination with a head piece adapted to fit the face about the eyes providing compartments in front of the eyes through which vision may be exercised, a pressure cylinder and a vacuum cylinder, means for establishing controlled selective communication between said cylinders and said respective compartments, a pump for maintaining pressure and vacuum in said cylinders and means for cutting out said cylinders and causing said pump to be directly effective upon the compartments of said head piece.

3. In a machine for exercising the interior muscles of the eyeballs, a head piece adapted to fit the face about the eyes providing comparments in front of the eyes through which vision may be exercised, and means for independently altering the pressure to controlled and known extents in said respective compartments whereby the eyes are induced to meet by muscular action the eiects of pressure alteration.

4. In a machine for exercising the interior muscles of the eyeballs, a head piece adapted to fit the face about the eyes providing compartments in front of the eyes through which vision may be exercised, a pressure cylinder and a Vacuum cylinder and means for establishing controlled selective communication between said cylinders and said respective compartments whereby the muscles of the eyes are concurrently called upon to meet the change in curvature of the eyeballs caused by the alterations of pressure.

5. In a machine for exercising the interior muscles of the eyeballs, a head piece adapted to iit the face about the eyes providing compartments in front of the eyes through which vision may be exercised, a pair of ports in each of said compartments, means associated with said ports for withdrawing air from one of said ports and introducing air through the other of said ports and independent manually operative means for controlling the passage of air to and from the respective compartments through said ports whereby abnormalityin muscle action in the eyeballs may be relieved and concurrent muscular action induced in the respective eyeballs.

GARRY MIKE OGORDEN. 

